Archive: January 2009
WCAC Guard Chooses Drexel
Been a busy 24 hours on this end, but I wanted to make a quick post. St. John's Coach Paul DeStefano called last night to report that guard Derrick Thomas had committed to play for Drexel. Thomas spent last season on the Cadets' JV after transferring from a New England...
By Josh Barr | January 30, 2009; 8:17 AM ET | Comments (0)
Seneca Valley Standout Chooses MAC
Seneca Valley Coach Fred Kim reports that free safety Xavier Hughes has committed to play for Ohio. The Screaming Eagles have a handful of other players yet to firm up their college plans. Kim said that cornerback Joe Rankin has an offer from Army, an official visit set to Division...
By Josh Barr | January 29, 2009; 10:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
Pointing the Finger for Terps' Struggles
It appears the blame game has started in College Park, where Coach Gary Williams and associated AD Kathy Worthington had a nice tit-fot-tat as they disagree on why Tyree Evans and Gus Gilchrist aren't suiting up for the Terps this season. Maryland's struggles are a topic of strong interest for...
By Josh Barr | January 28, 2009; 7:48 AM ET | Comments (13)
Loudoun Recruiting Items; Interest in Williams Heating Up
Colleague Paul Tenorio has a few recruiting tidbits from Loudoun County. Stone Bridge wide receiver-defensive back Nick Sheehan has accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Virginia Tech, while teammate Matt Custer, an offensive lineman, received a similar offer from Maryland. Scroll down to read about Loudoun County linebacker Chase Williams,...
By Josh Barr | January 27, 2009; 4:10 PM ET | Comments (0)
All-Met Kicker Chooses Virginia Tech
All-Met kicker Andrew Lloyd of James Wood has committed to play for Virginia Tech. Lloyd's father, Philip, reports that the Hokies recently offered Lloyd a preferred walk-on slot, with the opportunity to compete for a scholarship. Philip Lloyd said the Hokies also like that Andrew Lloyd can punt. North Carolina...
By Josh Barr | January 27, 2009; 2:13 PM ET | Comments (0)
Iowa: "Not All Cornfields and All That"
Caught up with Wootton wide receiver Stephane N'goumou upon his return from Iowa to discuss his commitment to play for the Hawkeyes. "The trip was nice," N'goumou said. "I liked a lot of things about Iowa. The town. The city is nice, the culture is great. The people are nice....
By Josh Barr | January 27, 2009; 9:58 AM ET | Comments (0)
Another Local Footballer Picks New Mexico
Hopefully those New Mexico faithful that emailed and, yes, called earlier this month will be happy to know that DeMatha offensive lineman Calvin McDowney has committed to play for the Lobos after taking an official visit to Albuquerque this past weekend. This is truly a success story. I chronicled McDowney's...
By Josh Barr | January 26, 2009; 4:01 PM ET | Comments (0)
Former Coach Helps Player Land at Iowa
So the road to Iowa apparently runs through Indiana. At least it did for Wootton wide receiver Stephane N'goumou, who this weekend committed to play for the Hawkeyes. "You remember Gunnard Twyner?" Wootton Coach Greg Malling said. "He got it started." Twyner, the former Kennedy coach now living in Indiana,...
By Josh Barr | January 26, 2009; 1:05 PM ET | Comments (0)
Terps Get Started on Next Year's Recruiting Class
It didn't take long for Wise free safety Titus Till to make his college decision. Till, a 6-2, 190-pound junior last month was offered a scholarship by Maryland and this weekend he committed to play for the Terps. "I loved the whole atmosphere of the campus and the coaches and...
By Josh Barr | January 26, 2009; 10:26 AM ET | Comments (0)
McGregor Discusses the Lure of Albuquerque
Spent some time with DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor discussing just how popular New Mexico first-year coach Mike Locksley is with Washington-area players and coaches. Stags wide receiver Emmanuel MacPhearson and offensive lineman Calvin McDowney are taking official visits to Albuquerque this weekend; MacPhearson already accepted a scholarship offer from Locksley...
By Josh Barr | January 23, 2009; 11:31 AM ET | Comments (5)
Westlake DB Chooses Miami (of Ohio)
Colleague Katie Carrera with the news: Westlake linebacker Evan Harris committed to Miami of Ohio after taking an official visit to the Oxford, Ohio, school this past weekend. Harris was the defensive leader for the Wolverines during their Maryland 3A championship season with a team high 132 tackles, 70 solo....
By Josh Barr | January 22, 2009; 5:06 PM ET | Comments (0)
Jenkins Draws a National Champion to Olney
What's new with All-Met Defensive Player of the Year Jelani Jenkins? The Good Counsel linebacker took his official visit to Penn State this past weekend and plans to announce his college choice on Feb. 4, the first day of the National Letter-of-Intent signing period. Jenkins has drawn plenty of suitors...
By Josh Barr | January 22, 2009; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
Fredericksburg DE Will Visit Michigan State
Chancellor defensive end Clinton Simpkins plans to take an official visit to Michigan State this weekend. Simpkins, a 6-3, 210-pound senior, holds scholarship offers from West Virginia and Kentucky. Michigan State reportedly is waiting to offer a scholarship until Simpkins receives his latest SAT scores....
By Josh Barr | January 22, 2009; 11:14 AM ET | Comments (1)
Area's Leading Rusher Gets First Offer
Colleague B.J. Koubaroulis passes along this tidbit: Chantilly All-Met running back Torrian Pace, a 5-11, 220-pound senior who led the area in rushing with 2,717 yards this season, is starting to catch some late interest. Pace, who also had 33 touchdowns, said Friday that he has recently earned his first...
By Josh Barr | January 19, 2009; 12:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
NCAA Puts Children Off Limits; Bans Paying Prospect's Coaches
No more recruiting Johnny Sixth-Grader. The NCAA yesterday passed emergency legislation that will prohibit college coaches from recruiting players before they enroll in ninth grade. Guess that also means no more decommit and recommit before 10th grade. "It was a negative trend," said Steve Mallonee, the NCAA's managing director of...
By Josh Barr | January 16, 2009; 2:37 PM ET | Comments (0)
Never a Sure Thing; Former Star Teaching Middle School
Terrific read here. Let it be a cautionary tale for every kid who thinks he's destined to play in the pros. Kevin Pittsnogle never put himself in that group, but the thought was that he certainly was destined for the NBA after shining for West Virginia. After all, how many...
By Josh Barr | January 16, 2009; 2:16 PM ET | Comments (1)
Report Says Johnson Will Stay at Penn State
I'm sure we'll see more on this story in the next 24 hours but David Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News really has the news: Larry Johnson has decided to stay at Penn State, Jones reports, attributing his scoop to dependable university sources. This is big news for Penn State, which...
By Josh Barr | January 15, 2009; 4:42 PM ET | Comments (1)
Local QB Picks Temple
Ace Insider correspondent B.J. Koubaroulis with the news: Oakton quarterback Chris Coyer orally committed to Temple on Tuesday, choosing the Owls over offers from Ohio and Central Michigan. The lefthander led the Cougars to the Virginia AAA Division 6 Concorde District and Northern Region titles this past fall. A 6-3,...
By Josh Barr | January 15, 2009; 11:54 AM ET | Comments (1)
A Geography Lesson, New Mexico Style
So apparently at least one New Mexico fan was insulted that I or Coolidge Coach Jason Lane suggested that going to school in Albuquerque is a long way to go for a Washington-area high school student. Don't think I wrote anything even close to controversial, but here's the email that...
By Josh Barr | January 15, 2009; 10:50 AM ET | Comments (8)
Still No Word on Johnson/Illini
Still no word on ace Washington-area recruiter Larry Johnson will leave Penn State for Illinois. Which leads one to believe something must be going on behind the scenes, because you have to think that before bringing Johnson in for an interview Illinois knew what it would take to get Johnson...
By Josh Barr | January 14, 2009; 1:58 PM ET | Comments (1)
More on Thomas's Decision to Retire
Straight from Al Thomas, who yesterday announced he is retiring from coaching after 45 years on the sideline and eight state championships, culminating in Sherwood's 14-0 season and Maryland 4A title last month: "I've got 45 years in and I do have some health problems. It's time to start taking...
By Josh Barr | January 14, 2009; 10:27 AM ET | Comments (0)
Locksley's Magic Works for Lobos
It didn't take long for New Mexico Coach Mike Locksley to start working his local recruiting magic for the Lobos. Coolidge quarterback Emmanuel Yeager and wide receiver Derrell Person - both previously committed to other schools - have committed to play for New Mexico. Yesterday, DeMatha wide receiver Emmanuel McPhearson...
By Josh Barr | January 14, 2009; 6:14 AM ET | Comments (7)
Coaching Legend Retires
Some non-recruiting breaking news: Al Thomas, the legendary local high school football coach who last month guided Sherwood to the Maryland 4A championship, today announced he is retiring. Thomas, who has coached football since the mid-1960s, has a career record of 232-47 and has guided his teams to eight state...
By Josh Barr | January 13, 2009; 5:04 PM ET | Comments (0)
Frederick County Standout Chooses Dukes
Tuscarora do-it-all senior Jakarie Jackson has committed to play for James Madison, Tuscarora assistant coach Mike O'Brien reports. Here's what the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record had to sat about Jackson: Jackson said he told JMU coach Mickey Matthews and assistant Ulrich Edmonds when the pair visited his family's home Wednesday night...
By Josh Barr | January 12, 2009; 1:32 PM ET | Comments (0)
DeMatha Defensive End Picks U-Va.
Take DeMatha defensive end Jeremiah Mathis off the list of the region's top uncommitted players. The second-team All-Met committed to Virginia yesterday. Man About Charlottesville Jeff White with the news: Yesterday, Jeremiah Mathis became the third high school football standout in the past week to commit to the University of...
By Josh Barr | January 12, 2009; 9:06 AM ET | Comments (1)
Gwynn Park Lineman Bound for ACC
Got a call earlier tonight from Gwynn Park Coach Danny Hayes, who shared the news that standout lineman Raynard Randolph committed to North Carolina State today during his official visit to the Raleigh campus. The Wolfpack recruited the 6-3, 315-pound Randolph, a second-team All-Met, to play nose tackle, Hayes said....
By Josh Barr | January 11, 2009; 11:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
Will Illinois Land a Big Recruit?
One of the more intriguing recruiting battles -- which surely will affect Washington-area football players -- is being played out far from the Beltway. Penn State assistant coach Larry Johnson, credited for much of the Nittany Lions' success recruiting locally, apparently is being wooed by Illinois. The Illini, you might...
By Josh Barr | January 8, 2009; 3:36 PM ET | Comments (4)
Hawkins Still With Terps, But Might Take Other Visits?
Quince Orchard All-Met defensive back Travis Hawkins will not enroll for the second semester at Maryland and might take some official visits to other schools, but he remains committed to play for the Terps, Quince Orchard Coach Dave Mencarini said. According to Mencarini, Hawkins, who is considered a top-notch cornerback,...
By Josh Barr | January 8, 2009; 2:00 PM ET | Comments (7)
Spotlight on Georgetown Recruit
Today's Recruiting Spotlight takes a look at Georgetown Prep junior guard Markel Starks, who already has committed to play for Georgetown. Starks always has been talented and now he's adding poise and maturity to his game....
By Josh Barr | January 8, 2009; 10:34 AM ET | Comments (3)
More on Tavon/West Virginia
Here is more on yesterday's news that Dunbar-Baltimore star running back Tavon Austin has committed to play for West Virginia. Austin said the Mountaineers' small, shifty backs like Steve Slaton (and Noel Devine) played a large part in making his decision. But this might be the most interesting quote...
By Josh Barr | January 7, 2009; 1:04 PM ET | Comments (12)
Tavon The Great Bound for West Virginia
Dunbar-Baltimore superstar running back Tavon Austin today committed to play for West Virginia. Jim Laise of wvsports.com was kind enough to pass along his dispatch: The running back-athlete who has been at the top of lead recruiter Lonnie Galloway's "Wish List" since Galloway arrived at West Virginia a year ago...
By Josh Barr | January 6, 2009; 6:12 PM ET | Comments (3)
Stone Bridge OL Picks William & Mary
Colleague Paul Tenorio with the news: Stone Bridge offensive lineman Trevor Springman became the seventh Bulldog senior to commit to play college football when he was verbally committed to William & Mary on Saturday, according to Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson. Springman, a 6-5, 261-pound guard, was a first-team all-Liberty...
By Josh Barr | January 5, 2009; 4:35 PM ET | Comments (0)
Jenkins Plans Penn State Trip
Not much news among the locals in this weekend's high school football all-star games. Good Counsel All-Met linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who played in the UnderArmour All-America game on Sunday night, plans to take his next official visit to Penn State on the weekend of Jan. 16-18. He visited Florida last...
By Josh Barr | January 5, 2009; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
Candlelight Vigil Tonight for Lynch
There will be a vigil to honor the life of Coach Nick Lynch at Suitland High School football field tonight at 6 p.m. I'll have details on funeral arrangements later today, but they are expected to be Tuesday at Ebenezer AME....
By Josh Barr | January 2, 2009; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (1)
